-- Billy Beane's moves were not uncharacteristic of the whirling dervish GM. But you wonder if he was watching the '89 Athletics celebrate the 25th anniversary of their World Series win. The '88 and '90 A's don't rate a reunion. Takeaway lesson: A champion lives forever.

-- The trade for Jon Lesteris a tarp-shredder. Stop pretending you own a small-market team, John Fisherand Lew Wolff. With 28 home games left as of Sunday, time to open the top deck and promote your ball team.

-- Yoenis Céspedes' final grades for glove work: Center field - F. Left field - A, for adventure.

-- Céspedes' failure to thrive in center field maybe paved the way for the re-signing of Coco Crisp.

-- Beane is his own setup man. Signing Céspedes was a gutsy gamble.

-- The thought of Céspedes hitting in Fenway stirs memories of the greatest trade never made - Ted Williamsfor Joe DiMaggio. DiMag would have hit 80 homers a year in Fenway; ditto the Splendid Splinter in Yankee Stadium.

-- What if the A's win the World Series and the Raiders win the Super Bowl? Then who does Oakland suck up to, stadium-wise?

Knucklehead of the week: Roger 'The Punishment Dodger' Goodell

Stripping away all the technicalities, legalese, comparisons and bullcorn: Ray Ricecold-cocked a woman in an elevator.

Deep thoughts, cheap shots & bon mots

-- Did you see video of the recent UCLA campus flood? Is it possible we're sending Southern California more water than it knows what to do with?

-- Creating an ominous outlook for 49er Aldon Smith: The crudstorm raining down on Roger Goodellin the wake of his two-game suspension of Ray Rice. In justifying the light punishment of Rice, Goodell says Rice's misdeed was an isolated incident, not part of a pattern. Smith's got himself a pattern.

-- The 49ers will sell standing-room tickets for $50 and $75. For $75 you get to stand on both feet.

-- Along with the $50 or $75 SRO ticket, you will be required to purchase a "personal air-space license."

-- Dustin Johnsontakes a month off and rumors swirl that he's dealing with cocaine issues. No wonder Johnson was the only guy finishing rounds in under an hour.

-- Mind if I play through?? Thanks!! Fore!!

-- Is the PGA Tour parsing words? Officials say they didn't suspend Johnson, but is it possible they threatened him with suspension unless he stepped away for at least six months?

-- Alert reader John Siamas notes that Jake Peavyis the seventh Giant this season whose name starts with P and is five letters long. Pagan, Pence, Posey, Panik, Perez, Petit. Who says Brian Sabeandoesn't have a plan?

-- Too bad the Giants couldn't land David Price. Hey, do you think Gaylord Perrycan still load 'em up? (The balls, not the bases.)

-- It's the Harbaugh Way, not clamoring for a new contract while you've got two years left on your old one. But why is it "the 49er Way," as Harbaugh insists? Harbaugh can coach 20 more years if he wants to. Alex Boone's career could end in an instant.

-- Eat your Wheaties, Kruk and Kuip. You've got a long way to go to catch Vin Scully. Next season Scully will get his kicks on Route 66 - his 66th season behind the mike for the Dodgers.

-- "Route 66," a hipster classic by Bobby Troup, was a hit in '46 when recorded by Nat King Cole. When the Dodgers moved to L.A. in '58, Cole was a big fan and a regular at games. His was the second-smoothest voice in L.A., behind Scully's. Everything is connected.

-- Greg Hardyof the Carolina Panthers, on his two convictions in a domestic violence incident: "I hate that I have distracted my team." I bet this guy is the king of Valentine's Day.

-- Maybe the NFL and the players' union should get together and agree that punching a woman unconscious is at least as wrong as smoking a doobie.